I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Azure Wood Star—Mad Botanical Garden

The Genius Battle is about to commence

Having decided to participate, Qin Tian immediately booked a ticket and set off the next day.

Before leaving, he had a small meeting with Yang Fan, Feng Mochuan, and Li Qi. He didn’t say what he was going to do, just mentioned that he would be away for a while and promised bonuses once he returned.

Early the next morning, Qin Tian boarded the spaceship heading to the Azure Wood Star.

Five days later

"We have arrived at Azure Wood Star."

Through the porthole, Qin Tian looked down.

Outside the porthole, Azure Wood Star appeared like an infinitely magnified jade, filling the entire view, with its atmosphere veiling the planet like a light gauze.

Ten satellites, like dazzling gems, circled Azure Wood Star, varying in size and shape.

Some satellites were covered with dense fluorescent vegetation, emitting a soft green light in the dark cosmos. Others were pockmarked with craters of varying depths, where exotic mosses grew, adding a touch of vitality to the cold rocks.

The satellites moved along their orbits, sometimes lining up in a straight line, other times scattering, together with Azure Wood Star forming a dynamic cosmic marvel.

In the synchronous orbit of Azure Wood Star, massive armed fortresses rotated slowly, their hexagonal main structures filled with energy cannon arrays, shimmering with a ghostly blue shield glow, like a mechanical spider lurking in the darkness.

Surrounding the fortresses, innumerable battleships formed a rhombus formation, their silver-gray hulls glistening with a cold metallic sheen under the starlight. Their ion thrusters emitted blinding tails of flame, resembling a swarm of steel bees spiraling in the cosmos.

"No doubt, the main star of the Azure Wood Star Realm is heavily guarded."

Qin Tian couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

The spaceship docked at the star port, and passengers entered the ground through a space elevator.

At the exit, many people were there to pick them up; some were family, some friends, and there were also some holding signs.

Qin Tian didn’t pay much attention and walked out with his black backpack, but at that moment, he suddenly noticed his own name among the pickup signs.

As his gaze landed on it, the person holding the sign met his eyes.

It was a young man in his twenties with a fair and handsome face and a tall and slender build. When their eyes met, a gentle smile appeared on his face as he walked over quickly.

"Hello, Qin Tian, welcome to Azure Wood Star."

The man extended his hand, saying, "I’m Dongfang Mingyu, and Eastern Cloud Sea is my grandfather."

Qin Tian extended his hand, sizing up Dongfang Mingyu, noticing some resemblance to Eastern Cloud Sea.

Qin Tian had guessed that Eastern Cloud Sea would send someone to arrange his itinerary, though he hadn’t expected it to be his direct grandson.

"Hello."

The moment they shook hands, Qin Tian could feel the strong power contained in that hand, indicating that Dongfang Mingyu was also a powerful Spiritualist.

"Qin Tian, my grandfather tasked me repeatedly to ensure you are well taken care of as our esteemed guest."

Dongfang Mingyu smiled, "I’ve already arranged your accommodations, though since you don’t have much luggage, why don’t we first grab something to eat? Azure Wood Star has many unique delicacies."

"Sure, that would be great," Qin Tian replied.

They got into a flying device, and as Dongfang Mingyu piloted it, he asked:

"Qin Tian, is this your first time visiting Azure Wood Star?"

"Yes."

Qin Tian nodded, gazing out of the window.

In the distance, a giant sunflower, a hundred meters tall, stood like a golden lighthouse. Its flower head had a diameter comparable to a football field, with blue fluorescence along the edges, slowly rotating along the star’s trajectory. Each time the flower head shook, tiny luminous seeds fell like meteors, creating phosphorescent ripples on the ground.

Further away, clusters of "Neon Trees" towered into the clouds. Their trunks were entirely crystalline, with colorful sap flowing inside. Umbrella-shaped flowers blossomed at the canopy, their petals changing color with the breeze, from fiery scarlet to deep indigo, like colorful clouds floating in the sky, with rich fragrances wafting into the flying device through the air currents.

As the flying device continued, Qin Tian saw the "Jade Forest" at the street’s end.

There, glowing bamboo grew, with each bamboo stem emitting a gentle green light. Bell-shaped flowers hung from the tips, producing a clear and pleasant sound when the wind blew through.

And deep within the bamboo grove, several "Transforming Trees" were faintly visible. Their branches twisted into various shapes based on light and wind direction, with canopies sometimes gathering into spheres, sometimes stretching into umbrellas, resembling living green clouds.

This place didn’t feel like a city but rather like a dreamlike wild botanical garden.

Noticing the change in Qin Tian’s gaze, Dongfang Mingyu couldn’t help but smile slightly. Anyone visiting Azure Wood Star for the first time would be awestruck by the scenery here.

"We have arrived."

Dongfang Mingyu led Qin Tian to a restaurant, which wasn’t a traditional grand restaurant but an extraordinary dining establishment centered around a giant tree a thousand meters tall.

The entire tree’s bark shimmered with a warm amber hue. Its canopy spread out like an umbrella high in the sky, and hanging from the branches were luminous mosses, resembling starry bead curtains that fragmented the twilight into tiny specks of light.

Translucent tree-hole private rooms were carved into the tree trunk. Each "window" was made of a resilient tree gum membrane, ensuring privacy while allowing guests to enjoy the street’s beautiful scenery.

A warm yellow glow flowed out of the tree holes, intertwining with the naturally growing fluorescent patterns on the trunk, creating a breathing abstract painting.

Through the tree holes, diners could be seen sitting around tables naturally formed by tree burls, with leaf-rolled dishes before them, enjoying dishes exuding exotic aromas.

Even more astonishing were the Spirit Birds hovering around the giant tree.

These creatures, their feathers glowing with a rainbow sheen, wore vine-woven aprons around their necks, with sharp beaks securely holding platters arranged with flower petals.

They moved gracefully between the tree holes, lightly knocking with their tail feathers on the tree gum membrane before an enclosure. When summoned, they elegantly placed the dishes on the table, the entire process smooth as flowing water, without making any unnecessary sound.

Seeing this, Qin Tian couldn’t help but express his admiration:

"Brother Mingyu, the environment here truly opens my eyes."

Dongfang Mingyu replied with a smile:

"This is a hallmark of Azure Wood Star. Compared to heavy steel and concrete or cold metal frameworks, we prefer to integrate with nature, maintaining the diversity of the natural ecosystem. Qin Tian, unique buildings like this are countless on Azure Wood Star. If you stay a bit longer, I believe they’ll bring you many more surprises."

Dongfang Mingyu recalled his grandfather’s instructions to subtly highlight the strengths of the Dongfang Clan during his interactions with Qin Tian, fostering more interest and favor towards the clan.

The ultimate goal was to draw Qin Tian into the family.

Though Dongfang Mingyu didn’t yet understand Qin Tian well, his grandfather’s focus on Qin Tian indicated that he must possess outstanding qualities.